STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Looking to fulfill a pledge that he would put health issues at the top of his agenda, GOP Borough President James Oddo on Friday is introducing his new Director of Health and Wellness, Dr. Ginny Mantello, at a Borough Hall press conference.

Oddo will use the event to broadly outline his plans to use his office to focus on the health of the 500,000 residents of the Island.

A Borough Hall press release says that Islanders "continue to have poor health indicators, which lead to many obesity-related illnesses and increased health care costs."

During his 2013 campaign, Oddo spoke often about health and wellness in the borough, and the need for policymakers to focus on promoting healthy lifestyles.

The hiring of Dr. Mantello is a demonstration of that priority, Borough Hall said.

Dr. Mantello was born in India, and is a neuroradiologist at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx.

She has taught meditation at Staten Island Technical High School, and is co-chair of the Wellness Committee at Staten Island University Hospital.

Her focus has been encouraging Islanders to live a healthy lifestyle.

The DaVinci Society of Wagner College last year honored Dr. Mantello with a Renaissance Award.